This document provides resources for non-profits to search for grant opportunities, including online directories of foundations and grants, as well as some potential grant sources. It recommends first understanding your organization's eligibility and the funder's priorities. Then it lists several online databases of foundations and grants, including some focused on North Carolina. It also provides some examples of specific grant opportunities. Finally, it offers additional fundraising resources beyond just grants.

1. The Search for Grants
Presented by staff of the Resourceful Communities Program
2013 Come to the Table Conference Series
Grants are an important resource for your non-profit organization’s work. To successfully secure a
grant first requires that you understand your eligibility to apply for a grant to support your
organization, program or project. You can determine if your organization is a “right fit” for a
funder by learning the grant source’s funding priorities – what they fund and the size and type of
organization’s they fund based on the budget, staff size, and mission of their past grantees. In this
document you will find online resources, grant directories and potential grant sources. Once you
determine compatibility, try to contact a program officer or other foundation/funder representative
to begin building a relationship and confirm your eligibility. Ask if you can get a meeting and
confirm the application process. Finally, a well written proposal with the relevant attachments
submitted on or before the grant application deadline is very important.
Web-based nonprofit fundraising resources
1. The Grantsmanship Center (TGCI) –
http://www.tgci.com/funding.shtml Offers a variety of links to NC-
specific funding information on their website. Click on NC to learn
about: Top Grantmaking Foundations in North Carolina, Community
Foundations in North Carolina, Corporate Giving Programs in North
Carolina, North Carolina State Home Page.
a. If you click on Top Grantmaking Foundations in NC you will get a list of funders. Click on
any of the options and you will get basic contact information for the foundation.
b. Click on the option right under the foundations name to visit the foundation’s website where
you will be able to read about the foundation and learn their funding priorities, grant sizes,
etc.
2. The Foundation Center http://foundationcenter.org/ - The Foundation Center provides online
background on thousands of foundations and a wide range of fundraising resources. Click on
find funders in the gold strip across the top of the page. In the drop down menu, click on
Foundation Finder. In the section right under Tips for using Foundation Finder, type in NC in
the section requesting name, city state, and zip. Click on find to get a list of multiple foundation
sources.
3. Southern Rural Development Center Grant Connections
http://srdc.msstate.edu/funding/grantconnections/gc_14_06_aug12.html, there are a variety
of grant sources at this site.
4. GuideStar – information on most foundations and nonprofits – www.guidestar.org
5. Tax Exempt World www.taxexemptworld.com – online information on foundations –
6. Afterschool Grants in NC http://www.ehow.com/list_6741024_afterschool-grants-north-
carolina.html - See grant options for 2012-2013 School Year.
7. NC Environmental Education, for the NC DENR (Dept of Environment and Natural
Resource) http://web.eenorthcarolina.org/resource/about.aspx?s=10009.0.0.37430 Click on grants for
several grant options, or here are a few off the NC Office of Environmental Ed site that might be
a fit:

2. Awesome Food $1,000 Micro-grants:
http://web.eenorthcarolina.org/core/item/page.aspx?s=97796.0.0.37430
Cedar Tree Foundation Grants
http://web.eenorthcarolina.org/resource/about.aspx?s=96197.0.0.37430
USDA Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Grants, Loans and Support
http://web.eenorthcarolina.org/resource/about.aspx?s=86425.0.0.37430
Eat Smart, Move More Grants
http://web.eenorthcarolina.org/resource/about.aspx?s=66196.0.0.37430
8. Grants.gov All discretionary grants offered by the 26 federal grant-making agencies can be
found on Grants.gov. You do not have to register with Grants.gov to find grant
opportunities. However, once you are ready to apply for a grant, you will need to Get
Registered. This process takes 3-5 business days up to 4 weeks if you experience any
difficulties.
9. And here’s one more for corporate giving in NC:
http://www.tgci.com/funding/cgps.asp?statename=North%20Carolina&statecode=NC the
list was pretty comprehensive.
10. Another resource is: http://www.philanthropyjournal.org/north-carolina - it’s Todd Cohen’s
weekly e-pub that lists funding sources, track trends, etc.
11. Youth Service America: http://www.ysa.org/grants
12. Blue Cross: http://www.bcbsncfoundation.org/grants/ & http://www.bcbsncfoundation.org/
(kind of a tedious website but worth getting on their e-news list)
Grant Directories (Hard copy or online resource)
1. The main library reference sections in most towns will have grant
directories – print resources that are likely to be a bit out of date.
Go to the main library in your county where the librarian should be
able to direct you to the section where to find the NC Giving
directory.
2. Foundation Directory Online Professional (FDO) This Foundation
Center resource connects grantseekers with grantmakers and is the
top online source for philanthropic research. Includes over 98,000
US foundations and corportate donors and 1.6 recent grants. The
Directory includes detailed text and visual tutorials on how to get
the most out of your searches. FDO is available on all public access
computers at the Main library.
Potential Grant Sources
Sodexo Foundation School Engagement Grants - $5,000
Deadline: July 15 Contact to determine the next grant deadline

3. Sodexo Foundation School Engagement grantees will engage teachers and students, grades K-12, in
learning about and addressing childhood hunger in their community through a service-learning
Semester of Service. The Semester of Service™ framework is designed to engage students in a
minimum of 70 hours of service and learning over a period of at least 10 - 14 weeks. This program
focuses on the subject areas of civics, social studies and language arts, but may also incorporate
other academic areas. The $5,000 grant can be used to support professional development in service-
learning (including required training at YSA's Youth Service Institute), project planning and
implementation, and demonstration/sharing of outcomes. www.YSA.org/grants/sodexoschool
Generations United Youth Jumpstart Grants
Deadline: June 30 Contact to determine the next grant deadline
Generations United and MetLife Foundation are pleased to announce the 2012 Youth Jumpstart
Grants designed to promote intergenerational solutions to societal challenges and build stronger
communities. Technical assistance and grants of $1,000 will be awarded to youth and organizations
interested in developing youth-led intergenerational programs in their communities. This year, the
priority will be funding programs addressing hunger and nutrition. http://bit.ly/mCprqx
Other fundraising resources (not specific to grant writing):
1. The Philanthropy Journal is a free weekly e-newsletter with information about NC philanthropy as well as
national trends and issues that is published by the A.J. Fletcher Foundation – www.philanthropyjournal.org
2. Board Source publishes a free monthly e-newsletter and is a wonderful website containing lots of useful
information – www.compasspoint.org look for the link to research and publications and choose Board Café
to subscribe to the e-letter.
3. The Chronicle of Philanthropy – www.philanthropy.com gives you the most recent edition of this national
publication on line (front page with links to key stories).
4. Association of Fundraising Professionals - www.afpnet.org
5. North Carolina Center for Nonprofits – has basic information for non-members with more detailed articles
and resources for members www.ncnonprofits.org.
6. Kim Klein is a nationally known nonprofit fundraising author and lecturer. Her material can be obtained
via www.chardonpress.com or 888-458-8588 publishers of the Grassroots Fundraising Journal.